The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-01-20

wessem TERRITORY. General Putnam ives the |
President Of the meeting; the company was |
formed, and the frst Directors elected were
Rufus Putnam, General Samuel H. Parsons and
Rev. Manasseh Cutler. subsequently General |
James N. varnum, member Of the Continental
Congress, was added to the number. The
plan was to buy from Congress large tract Of
land, on which they might found . colony as
nucleus Of o new State.
.'Tho purchase Of the Ohio Company il" says
Andrews, who is perhaps the most exact Of
living writer's on the subject, 'inseparably con-
nected with the great ordinance Of 1857 that
was passed for the government, or rather for
the fundamental law Of the Northwest Terri.
tory"
A plan for the temporary government Of the
Territory was passed April 23, 1Ss4, that per-
mitted slavery till 1900 but prohibited It after
that time. In 1855 the question came up again.
At that time Arthur 81. Clair was President Of
Congress-. The ordinance would have been
passed the 10th Of May had its progress not
been arrested by o communication from the
Ohio Company.
The company had been formed, subscribers
had been obtained, and General Parsons ap-
peared on the day before the bill came up for q
final vote, to make purchase Of land from Con-
gress. This perfected scheme for settlement
in Ohio was widely discussed. Mr.. Bancroft
says: 1T interested every one. For vague hope
Of colonization here stood hardy band Of pi-
oneers ready to lead the way to the rapid ab-
sorption Of the domestic debt Of the United
States; selected from the choicest regiments Of
the army, capable Of selfdefense; the protec-
tors Of oil who should follow them; men skilled
in the labor Of the field. and artisans, enterpris-
ing and laborious trained in the severe morality
| and strict orthodoxy Of the New England villages
| of the day."
The famous ordinance of 17s7 was passed ON
the 18th Of July, and not until Rev. Manasseh
| Cutler had visited New York, where Congress
was in session, and pressed its passage He, it
| is thought, inspired the famous anti-slavery
| clause which forever prohibited slavery in the
liam p. Cutler, now lives in Marietta, and is .
| man Of wide acquaintance.
In the task Of drafting this ordinance and pre-
| senting 1t to Congress, Rev. Manasseh Cutler
had most efficient ally on the committee to
/ which 1t was referred-Nathan Dane, the Rep
resentative from his district in Congress.
Dane was an able lawyer, but he had not
| turned his attention to the construction Of Gov
eminent policies or the reforming Of abuses. He
| had useful experience in the Legislature OF
| In the Continental Congress- Cutler was for
tunate In having such an advocate on the floor
| of Congress, and Dane was fortunate in having
| such client. Dr. Cutler presented himself ut
| the doors Of Congress with the terms Of the
Ohio Company's purchase in one hand, and the
terms Of settlement in the other, and both were
I accepted, and SO an unsuccessful measure
| which on two previous occasions Dane had &C.
Quiesced in as o member OF Congressional
| committee. became under Cutters force q Ma
tional necessity; and when the Ordinance OF
17S7, thus championed, was made part Of the
great body Of American law, Cutler won the
eternal gratitude and lasting honor rs the found
er Of free institutions In the Northwestern Ter
ritory and Dane secured the proud fame Of
managing the practical legislation that effected
| the great result.
The Ohio Company became the possessor Of o
million and q half of acres, and the emigration
| of the settlers to the banks OF the Muskingum,
marks an epoch Of far-reaching Importance in
the history Of this country. No colony was
ever planted under such conditions and aus
piees. Congress had SO much faith in the men
who asked to settle Ohio that 1t responded to
their wishes, both as to the purchase and to the
government Of the Territory. The United
States in Congress assembled, sent Putnam and
his associates to their new home with q Ma
tional blessing. Congress took its own Presi-
dent, General Arthur st. Clair, and made him
the Governor Of the Northwest Territory and
appointed as Judges two Generals Of the Rev
olution, and this, too, before single emigrant
had started on his westward journey.
The whole Nation at that time was interested
in the new colony. Among the prominent men
|
Governors James Bowdoin, Caleb Strong and
Elbridge Berry, Of Massachusetts,. the latter
Also Vice-President of the United States; Gov
ernor William Greene, Of Rhode Island; Gov
ernor Jonathan Trumbull Of Connecticut; Sam
| uel Dexter, U. 8. Senator from Massachusetts,
and Secretary Of the Treasury; Uriah Tracy,
u. 8. Senator from Connecticut; Ebenezer Haz
| zard. Postmaster General under the Continent
al Congress; b. Livingstone, o Justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States; Alexnn
der Hamilton, the first Secretary Of the Treas
ury; Henry Knox, first Secretary of War, and
Joseph Willard, President OF Harvard College
The very best brains and blood of the young
Nation was enlisted in behalf of its first colony
and Territory, and this proposed purchase and
settlement developed in our public men Q
higher and broader craftsmanship. Theil
minds expanded with the growth Of theil
| country.
The American Historical Association, at its
last meeting, in the city Of Washington, ex
pressed its hearty concern in the matter by
adopting this resolution: Recognizing the
! fact that acquisition of the territory northwest
of the Ohio was Of the greatest consequence tt
! the growth and development of the United
States, and being informed OF O purpose Il
, celebrate, at Marietta, In 1888, the centennia
OF the first settlement In that territory, we per
J ceive that purpose to be proper recognition
of the beginning Of what has become one O.
, the most important divisions Of the American
Union"
: The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical
Society has asked the Legislature to take actor
In reference to the commemoration ut Marietta
on the 7th Of April 1885, of the settlement of the
, Northwest Territory, and the General Assem-
bly, has asked the Ohio delegation in Congress
to endeavor to secure Congressional action To-
: the erection of o monumental structure at Mari
eta.
Five great States have sprung from th'
germ planted at Marietta in 1883, five times fiv,
great States should join in the celebration o
the event that opened the gates Of the West Il
the world.
After the purchase Of the land from Congress
the Ohio Company went directly at work to or
ganize colony. 1t was serious undertaking
but the men who were interested in the venture
were determined spirits, and there was nj
| thought Of retreating from the bargain or from
the actual settlement of Ohio.
The only abode Of white men at this time II
the Northwest Territory was at Fort Harmar
on the right bank of the Muskingum ut the con
fiuence with the Ohio. 1t was U. S. militar!
post, and was not settlement. A very goo,
representation of 1t is given In this impression
of the paper.
The Ohio Company voted in August 1Ts1, tina
q tract of land containing $3.50 acres o
land, near the mouth of the Muskingum he re
served for city and commons. That city be
came Marietta, named after Marie Antoinette
who made the city present Of bell, which wa
: lost at sea.
, In November, 1857, 1t was determined to star
I o company of pioneers to Ohio at once. Pro
, vision was made for the equipment Of party
, and the Directors of the company were request
IL, 1vn d., =